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Former Ipswich News and Ross Building DemolitionIpswich - The fire damaged building owned by the Ross family on Market Street was demolished earlier this week. The Ipswich News Store, which shared a chimney and staircase with the Rosses' building, is now free-standing.

Demolition began on Monday and was nearly complete late on Tuesday. The building was torn down from the back forward.

Peter and Arthur Ross, who were out watching the demo on Monday morning, said the workmen were being extraordinarily careful in pulling the building down so as not to damage the properties on either side, one of which is the Rosses' law offices. Indeed, the machine operator lowered the mammoth jaws of the scoop slowly and precisely each time and then removed the contents to a dumpster just as slowly.

The workmen, the Rosses said, shored up the Ipswich News Building so it wouldn't be damaged in the process. The Rosses plan to construct a new building in a style that is in keeping with the architecture on the street.

The Allen family owns the Ipswich News building. They have not yet announced their plans for their property, which was nearly destroyed by the fire in July 2007 that also damaged the Rosses' building.